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Tun Dr Mahathir's Birth House, Alor Setar


Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's BirthhouseTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Birthhouse, Alor Setar (2 August, 2015)


The birth house of former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (GPS: 6.11325, 100.36287) (Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir Mohamad), is located at 18, Lorong Kilang Ais, off Jalan Pegawai, Alor Setar. Tun Mahathir, the third Prime Minister of Malaysia, was born there on 20 December, 1925. His father was Mohamad Iskandar, who was of mixed parentage - Mahathir's paternal grandfather was a Malayalee Muslim from Kerala, India, while his paternal grandmother, Wan Tempawan, was a Malay.

The birthhouse of Tun Dr Mahathir is a Malay kampung house on stilts. It was erected around 1900. It has a traditional verandah where guests are received. Surrounding the house is a compound with flowering plants. Mahathir lived in the house until he got married.

Tun Dr Mahathir's Birth House was restored by the National Archives in 1992, and designated a National Historical Building.

360° View of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Birthhouse on Google Maps Street View



Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's BirthhouseTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Birthhouse (2 August, 2015)


Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's BirthhouseSide view of Tun Mahathir's Birthhouse (2 August, 2015)


Although the village house in which Tun Mahathir was born is preserved, the same can't be said of the surrounding village houses, which have now made way for traditional-style structures housing galleries showcasing personal memorabilia of the Tun.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's BirthhouseGallery housing memorabilia of Tun Mahathir (2 August, 2015)


Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's BirthhouseAnother gallery of Tun Mahathir's memorabilia (2 August, 2015)


Visitor Information

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's birthhouse is open to the public daily except Mondays (unless it is a public holiday or during the school holidays). Visiting hours are as follows:

Tuesdays to Sundays: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Fridays: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Mahathir's Birthhouse is on the Map of Alor Setar

Back to Discover Alor Setar mainpage; list of Historic Buildings in Alor Setar, Historic Buildings in Kedah and Historic Buildings in Malaysia

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Timothy Tye
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